Calling it the “Agricultural Act of 2026,” Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman released his farm bill discussion text this week. Boozman said it’s “built for farmers, ranchers, and producers.” It improves existing commodity, dairy, standing disaster, and crop insurance programs, while expanding opportunities tailored to the unique needs of specialty crop producers. The legislation also streamlines and strengthens conservation programs and bolsters Buy American requirements across nutrition programs.
There is support for rural communities, including improved access to USDA Rural Development programs and private capital. The bill is also “built for the future” as it modernizes farm loan programs, more than doubles the funding for the Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs, and defends the security of U.S. agricultural land from foreign ownership. It also enhances the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to expand access to critical mental health care in rural communities.
-NAFB